Acquired in the 1960's

The 'unique and most spectacular' type of stone sculpture from Costa Rica are the flying-panel metates of the Central Highland/Atlantic watershed region. They exhibit virtuoso carving which transformed large volcanic blocks into openwork sculptures of dynamic figural and zoomorphic forms. Possibly used as altars or thrones, the slightly curved platforms were most likely used for the preparation of ceremonial food or hallucinogens, and are supported on a theater of active figures. Here the central figure is wearing a zoomorphic mask with scrolled beak and standing on a bound prisoner, long-beaked birds project in a diving motion from each of the columnar legs and grasp the trophy-heads of sacrificial victims. The production of such elaborate stone sculptures was the domain of the elite; the primary symbolism clusters on the rites of sacrifice, control and renewal as enacted by animals of the land and sky and their masked human counterparts. For similar flying-panel metates, see Jones, Kan and Snarskis (1981: 119, and cat. nos. 144-147)